GLOUCESTER make a number of changes to their starting line-up, some tactical and some injury-enforced, for tonight's Aviva Premiership Rugby fixture away at Sale Sharks.

The six changes from the team that started last week against Worcester are split evenly between the backs and forwards. The three new faces in the pack – Richard Hibbard, Gareth Denman and Lewis Ludlow – come in for Motu Matu'u, John Afoa and Jacob Rowan who are all named as replacements.

Meanwhile, the back line is reshuffled due to injuries. Henry Trinder starts in the midfield alongside Billy Twelvetrees while there are two new faces on the wings in David Halaifonua and Henry Purdy.

Indeed, it's an injury ravaged Gloucester squad that heads north to take on the Sharks, with no fewer than 15 players ruled out as the Cherry and Whites look to make it three wins in a row at the AJ Bell Stadium.

That said, there is a bonus in being able to select summer signing Owen Williams in the matchday squad for the first time as he is named amongst the replacements.

It's another new venue for Head Coach Johan Ackermann and he knows that Gloucester will be up against a resolute Sale outfit.

"If you look at Sale, they have quality all over. Traditionally I have heard that they always come at you physically, but they have x factor players all over.

"We all know about Faf (de Klerk) who I coached for a number of years. We know about Denny Solomona on the wing. But they have quality all over, so we have to be good defensively and also at the set-piece and first phase.”

Despite winning their past two games at the AJ Bell, Gloucester have lost twice on the road this season and Ackermann is keen for his side to perform as well away from home as they do at Kingsholm.

"I don't want to have to use travel as an excuse. A good side stays in the moment, in the process of what they need to do. If you want to win competitions, you have to start to find a way to win away from home.

"We can control the parts between the white lines on Friday. We can't control anything outside that, the weather etc. We have to ensure we pitch up with the right mindset, look after the ball and give it a go. If we look after our style, our game then we have to believe we have a shot.”

Gloucester Rugby: 15. Jason Woodward; 14. David Halaifonua, 13. Henry Trinder, 12. Billy Twelvetrees, 11. Henry Purdy; 10. Billy Burns, 9. Willi Heinz (capt); 1. Val Rapava Ruskin, 2. Richard Hibbard, 3. Gareth Denman; 4. Ed Slater, 5. Jeremy Thrush; 6. Freddie Clarke, 7. Lewis Ludlow, 8. Ruan Ackermann Replacements: 16. Motu Matu'u, 17. Josh Hohneck, 18. John Afoa, 19. Tom Savage, 20. Jacob Rowan, 21. Callum Braley, 22. Owen Williams, 23. Ben Vellacott